Gearing.



A. B. FRENIER.

-GEAR|NG. APPLICATION FILED DEC, H, 1908.

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET IHB COLUMBIA PLANbaRAPl-l (20., WASHINGTON, D. C.

' A. B. FRENIER.

GEARING. Y

APPLICATION FILED DEC-I1, I908- I Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

aid

A. B. FRENIER.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 050.11, 1908.

1 1 70,808 Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

'rnrs COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

A. B. FRENIER.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-H, 1908.

1 170 808. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII C V A. B.FRENIER.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H, 1908. 1,170,808. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

THE COLUMBlA PLANDGRAPH CO4 WASHINGTON, C

TED STATES PATENT ornion.

lALIBERT B. FRENIER, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BOOK ISLANDPLOW COMPANY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION :OF ILLINOIS.

GEABING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Feb.8,1916.

Application filed December 11, 1908. Serial No. 467,023.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ALBERT B. FRENIER, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of Rock Island,Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gearing,of which the following is a specification- My invention relates toimprovements in gearing for planters, and has for its object theproduction of a machine in which, by the use of my improved mechanism,the seed shaft may be caused to revolve a fullrevolution or any desiredpart thereof on the rocking of the rock shaft, and in which themechanism may be locked in drilling position by the use of simple means.

V A further object is the utilization of improved mechanism whereby thedrive sprocket may be thrown out of engagement on the raising of theplanter therefrom, thus stopping the entire mechanism, including theclutch anddrive chains.

These and such other objects as may here ina'fter appear, are attainedby my machine and the mechanisms attached thereto are fully 1 describedin the following specification, and embodiments thereof are illustratedin the accompanying drawings in wh1ch,

Figure my improved machine. Fig. 2 sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 3 represents anenlarged perspective of viewon line 66 of Fig. 4,1ookingin the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. 7'

represents an enlarged sectional view on line 7.7 of Fig. 6, looking inthe direction indi[ cated bythe arrows. Fig. 8 represents an enlargeddetail of the variable gear mechanism. Fig. 9'represents a sectionalview on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows. Fig. 10 represents a sectional view on the line 10-1O of. Fig.8, looking in the direction indicated by the .,arro ws. Fig. 11represents asectional view 1 represents a top plan view of. represents aon the line 11-11 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing.

Referring now to the drawings-16 represents the bail axle on the outerends of which are mounted the driving and covering wheels 17. Asupporting arch'18 is mounted on the bail throughthemedium of castings19. A front frame; 20 rests on the runners or furrow openers 21, thetongue 22 being also mounted on'the front frame and braced by means ofbrace rods 23. Bars 24 extend rearwardly from the tongue, terminating ina casting or shoulder 25 on which is mounted a spring connection 26. Abell-crank lever- 27 is pivotally mounted on the arch 18, one arm ofwhich 28, is pivotally connected to the spring connection 26, theouterarm 29 terminating in a foot-rest 30. A lever 31 is rigidly mounted onthe lever or casting 27 andmay be controlled by means of a spring dog 32operated by a latch 33 engaging the teeth of the rack 34 rigidly mountedon the arch. It will thus be seen that by means of the lever 31,assisted by thefoot-lift or arm 29, the front frame or runners may beraised or lowered. I I

,.Referring now to the transmission of 1 power fromithewheel, on one endof the axle 16 inside of the wheel a sleeve or collar 36 is looselymounted and the end that engages the hub of the ground wheel is notched,and engages out out portions of the inner end of the hubof the groundwheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The other end of this sleeve 36isprovided with a flange 36 on the innerface of which are clutch teeth36, as shown on the dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The ground, wheel is kept in engagement with this sleeve 36 by. a setcollar 36 securely attachedto the axle16 on the opposite side of theground wheel as shown in Fig. 4E. A sprocket wheel37 slips over thissleeve 36*? and is provided with a long hub 35 One end of this hub isprovided with clutch teeth 44; contacting with the clutch of the sleeve36 It can readily be seen that as the sleeve 36 -isrevo'lved on'thespindle 16by the turning of the ground wheel, byreason of the fact thatthe end of thehubof the ground wheel and the end of this sleeve areengaged, it would also turn the sprocket wheel .37 if the two engagedclutch surfaces are in contact, which is the case when the planter fronthas been lowered to operative position. A chain 38 engages the sprocketsof the sprocket wheel 37 and also the sprocket wheel 39 on the operatingor seed shaft 40. A tightener or idler 41 is mounted on the frame at 20by means of which the tension of the chain may be regulated. A clutch 42is rigidly mounted on the axle, the teeth 43 of which engagecorresponding sockets or the rack 44 on the inner face of the sleeve 36or hub of the wheel. A bell-crank lever 45 is mounted on the ear 46extending upwardly from the bearing sleeve 47. At one end this leverterminates in a yoke 48 encircling the hub of the sprocket wheel 37 andresting against the inner face of the wheel at 49. At the other end thearm 48 extends at practically right angles to the yoke, and at its end50 is provided with an opening through which passes a rod 51. This rodat its forward end is preferably provided with an eye 52 secured to thefront frame casting at 53. The rear end of the rod is preferablythreaded, and by means of the nuts 54 its position in the hole in thebell-crank lever may be so adjusted that the yoke on the lever pressessnugly against the face of the sprocket wheel. Of course, other forms ofconnection may be utilized, but I find that described simple andeiiicient. It

i is therefore, apparent that when the lever is operated and the frontframe and runner raised from the ground, as, for instance. when turningcorners or going to and from the field, the forward end ofthe rod isalso raised, pulling the arm 48 forwardly and forcing the yoke againstthe face of the sprocket wheel, thus forcing the sprocket wheel out ofthe clutch 42 against the compression of the spring 36. When the frameis lowered, the rod and lever resume their normal position and thespring 36 forces the wheel back into engagement with the clutch 42.

Referring now to the operation of the seed shaft and mechanism connectedtherewith On the seed shaft 40 is loosely mounted a clutch member59comprising in this instance integralsprocket wheels 39 and 60 and acup-V shaped clutch disk .61 provided with a series of teeth 62, aspring 63 normally pressing against the clutch 59. A sleeve 64 alsoloosely surrounds the shaft 40'on one end of which is cast or rigidlysecured a bevel gear 65. A counter shaft 66 is loosely journaled in abearing 67, bolted to the front frame 20 at 68. A bevel gear 69 ismounted on the end of the countershaft 66, or cast integral therewith,and a shifting pinion 70 is mounted to slide onthe countershaft; thispinion is provided with one or more long teeth shown in F ig. 11 as 70.On the shaft 40 adjacent to this countershaft 66, is mounted a multiplegear 71 provided with a plurality of circles of teeth shown in Fig. 9 as71, 71 and 71 adapted to mesh with the pinion 70. These circles of teethon the multiple gear 71 are also provided with a series of depressions72 72 and 72 adapted to receive the long teeth 70 on the pinion. On theopposite end of the sleeve 64 is mounted or cast integral therewith acollar 83 on which is pivotally mounted a dog 84, which may be throwninto and out of engagement with the teeth 62 of the clutch 61. A disk 85is also mounted on the sleeve 64 provided with a slot within which thedog 84 is set when out of engagement with the clutch 61. On the rockshaft 87 is mounted a cam 88 provided with a bearing lug 89 and ashifting finger 90. When the rock shaft is rocked, the bearing lug 89throws the dog out of the slot and into engagement with the clutch, thuslooking the sleeve 64 and clutch member 59, and the sleeve is turnedthrough one revo lution. The end of the dog 84 then strikes the shiftingfinger 90 of the cam, and the dog is thrown out of engagement with theclutch and into the slot 86 until the shaft is again rocked.

When it is desired to drill, the rock shaft is locked in such positionthat the finger 90 will not throw the dog out of the clutch and the lug89 will prevent its entering the slot, thus insuring the continuousrevolution of the sleeve with the seed shaft. This means for locking therock shaft is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and comprises a latch 91- having ahook 91 at its upper end and connected at its lower end to an upwardlyprojecting ear 92 on the rock shaft; a spring 93 is secured at one endto the ear or projection there from (as at 94) and at the other end to ahook 95 on the tongue. A bell-crank lever 96 is pivotally mounted on theseat bar 97 at 98, to the lower arm of which (99) is secured one end ofthe rod 100, the other end of which is connected to the latch 91 at 101.A crank arm 102 is extended from the upper arm of the lever 96. It willthus be seen that by pushing forwardly with the foot'against the crankor rest 102, the latch is pulled forwardly, the hook 91- passing overthe stop 103 and the rock shaft thus locked for drilling. When it isdesired to release the latch, a slight downward pressure of the footthrows the hub off the stop and the spring 93 pulls the rock shaft intohilling position.

It will thus be clearly seen that in my improved machine I accomplishmany results in new ways,-and by the use of novel and heretofore unknownmeans. By shifting the pinion 70 on the countershaft, the seed shaft maybe given a half revolution to each revolution of the clutch 61, and theseed ring and plates driven at a slow rate of speed, thus greatlyassisting in the filling of the clogging of corn in front of thecut-off. In addition, it allows more-time for the kernels to pass overand away from the cut-off and thus reduces the liability'of the kernelstobreakor crack. 7

If the pinion were provided with"18 teeth, three of which werelong, theinner rankof teeth 72 on-themultiplegearalso being provided with 18teeth, there must necessarily have been provided three depressions whichI have marked-71. One revolution of the gear 70 when meshed with thisrank of teeth on themultiple gear 71 would necessarily revolvethe shaftto whichit is securely attached 'a full revolution.- It Was necessary atthestarting or on the final assembling of the parts in the constructionof the planter-to set these two gears'at a fixed point relative one tothe other, with the seed cells in the seed can in proper positionrelative to the cut-off and the seed opening in the planterboot. Thiswas determined and this correct position maintained and alwaysthereafter readily-ascertained through the medium of this long tooth 7in the pinion 70 and thecorresponding depression ingear 71. If theproper teeth were once in mesh, the proper combination of cells in theseed ring would be brought into use at'eachoperation of the seedingmechanism so that a given number of kernels would be deposited on theupper valve, buildingllp the hill. 7

You can readily see that if these gears were meshed in a haphazardmanner that the proper number'of seed cells would not be; broughtover'the opening in the boot, nor would the seed cells come to. a stateof rest at the end of each operation with .the cells in proper positionrelative to the. cut-off. You might at one time pass three full cellsover the opening and the half of another. There must, however, beexactly four cells whenbuilding up a four kernel hill and this isaccomplished by the use of this long tooth and the depressions in thegear. In order to shift the pinion 70 from'the inner circle to the outercircle, the planter must be turned by hand until the depression ordepressions in the-large gear would register as at 73, it beingimpossible to pass the pinion across the face of the gear 71 except atthis point.

Now as the pinion 7 0 has 18 teeth and the center circle of the teeth onthe gear 71 has 24, there must be provided four depressions to receivethese long teeth in the pinion 70; these depressions are indicated by72". When the gears are working in this position, the seed shaft isrevolved a three-quarter revolution and three kernelsare discharged fromthe seed box onto the valve in the boot, thus building up a hill ofthree kernels;

When a hill of two kernels is wanted the pinion 70 is shifted to theouter circle of teeth on the gear 71 and as this outer circle has36teeth, the shaft-will be revolved a onehalf revolution, thus passingbut two cells of the seed ring overtheopening .iI-r-the boot andbuilding up a hillof two kernels. This shiftingcan only-be accomplishedat a point when the threedepressions register as shown at 74.Corresponding depressions must be provided as at 72 fl- Bytheuse of myimproved mechanism the machine may be changed from a hill drop to adrill drop by a slight forward pressure of the'foot-and at the same timethe parts are securely locked: in position. A slight downward pressureof the foot releases the mechanism and rearranges the entire mechanismfor hill dropping. By reason of the introduction of the multiplegear,throughthe medium-"of which I actually change'the speed of the plate, I'can dispense with the furnishing of numerous plates with a differentnumber of cells and accomplish the act of planting at various distancesby changing the speed ofthe plate only. i In connection with thismultiple gear and variable speed I, use but the one set of plates withtwenty cells; inother words, I furnishbut-six plates, these sixcontaining all of twenty cells, divided into two each of 7 differentsize'cells for thelarge,*medium and s ma-llcorn. Thus instead of beingobliged to 'chan'gethe platesfor varying the num ber of kernels in ahill, or vary thedi-stance apart when drilling, I simply shift thisshiftable pinion in the countershaftin my variablespeed gear.Bythe'use-of the countershaft and: the multiple gear wheels withdiflerent numbers ofteeth, it becomes a very simple operation to changethespeed of the seed shaft. I havealso provided for a posi tive clutchby means of which the" planting mechanism and. the seed-dropping-mechanism may be easily adjusted and regulated. The improvedn'mechanismby which" the clutch on the main axle is thrown out ofengagement with the main drive is positive in its action, andall of thelevers and parts are. assembled in compact form in position to bereadily operated by the operator.

It is clearly understood that the means illustrated and methodsdescribed may be varied, both with respect to the details of operationand construction, and still come within the scope of my invention.

. I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a shaft, arock shaft, multiple gears supported on said shaft, a'clutch forconnecting'the shaft, with and disconnecting it from saidgears, a cammounted on said rock shaft, adapted when the rock shaft is rocked toactuate said clutch, and means whereby said shaft may be caused to passthrough a desired part of a revolution with each revolution of saidclutch mecha nism, said means comprising a countershaft,

a pinion mounted thereon and adapted to mesh With saidmultiple gears,and means for locking any desired gear in operative engagement with sandpmlon, said plnlon combination of a shaft, a rockshaft, multiple gearssupported on said shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft with anddisconnecting it frolnsaid gears, a cam mounted on said rock shaft,adapted when the rock shaft is rocked to actuate said clutch, and meanswhereby said shaft may be caused ,to pass through a desired part of arevolution with each revolution of said clutch mechanism, said meanscomprisinga countershaft a shifting pinion mounted thereon adapted tomesh with said multiple gears whereby said pinion-may be shifted on saidcountershaft to lock said pinion in operative engagement with any ofsaid gears, said pinion provided with an elongated tooth and each ofsaid multiple gears having a corresponding depression.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an axle,a shaft, multiple gears mounted on said shaft, a sleeve surrounding saidshaft, means for rotating said sleeve from said axle,a pinion mounted onsaid sleeve and adapted to rotate there with, a countershaft, a pinionmounted thereon engaging said first-mentioned pinion and a second pinionadapted to mesh with said multiple gears, said last-mentioned pinionhaving an elongated tooth, and each of said multiple gears havingcorresponding depressions.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an axle,a shaft, multiple gears mounted on said shaft, a pinion driven from saidaxle meshing with said multiple gears, said pinion being provided withan elongated ,tooth and therebeing a corresponding depression in each ofsaid multiple gears, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, means for rotatingsaid sleeve from said axle, a pinion mounted on sa1d sleeve and adaptedto rotate therew th, a countershaft, a pinion mounted thereon engagingsaid first-lnentionedpinion and a second pinion adapted to mesh withsaid multiple gears, said last-mentioned pinion having an elongatedtooth, and each of said multiple gears having correspondmg depresslons.

5. In an apparatus o f the class described, the combination with anaxle, a shaft, multiple gears mounted on said shaft, a sleevesurrounding said shaft, means for rotating said sleeve from said axle, apinion mounted I multiple gears, a sleeve surroundingvsaid M shaft,means for rotating said sleeve from said axle, a pinion mounted on saidsleeve and adapted to rotate therewith, a countershaft, and a pinionmounted thereon engaging said first-mentioned pinion.

Signed by me at Rock Island, Illinois, this I 24 day of Aug, 1908.

t ALBERT B. FRENIER. lVitnesses: H. DETJENs, J. D. VAN BUREN.-

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0.

